Guess who's back, Back Again! It's a terrible joke but it's true. This has been overdue for awhile and I happy to finally be getting back to work on this. But enough of my blathering, on with the show!


Belle and Zelena were in the library studying for the next day. They'd made it from Abservan all the way to Bowtuckles when Belle stopped to ask Zelena a question. "Hey Zelena?" she started.

"What it is it?" she asked kindly. When she looked into Belle's eyes they were full of worry and concern but she had no idea why.

"You've known Rumplestiltskin for six years now, right?" she asked not really asking what she wanted to but trying to ease into her question.

"Darling what is it you're trying to ask me?" she skipped through all the roundabouts that she could see coming.

"What happened to him?" she asked. "He used to laugh and smile a lot more when we were littler. He didn't use to be so… hard and skeptical. What happened?"

"I see you missed out on the reign of Milah," she said. She probably shouldn't be telling her this. It was Rumplestiltskin's life and he should be sharing this with her. But the look in Belle's eyes told her that this girl cared that he'd become this way. That she wanted to help him. That she cared for him. And if there was any way she was going to be able to do that, she was going to have to need to know the whole story. She looked around cautiously, making sure he wasn't around, "Rumplestiltskin will kill me if finds out I told you."

"Then don't, I don't want you getting in trouble," she tried to convince her.

"But I think you need to know," she told her. She checked around them one more time. "Do you remember a girl named Milah Turner?

"Uh, not really," she answered.

"Well," Zelena began, "Milah Turner is in the Ravenclaw house. Rumplestiltskin was working on trying to perfect one of his spells when she came up to him and asked if she could borrow a pencil. They made it a routine to swap pencils back and forth with each other before he asked her out on a date. It was all very innocent until one day it wasn't.

You have to understand. Rumplestiltskin wasn't the bravest guy in the world but he was very caring. He'd fallen for Milah three fourths through the year. They hadn't kissed yet but that was because he wanted to make sure she wanted to. He went to go surprise her with a flower he'd planted by hand. He turned the corner to find Milah kissing another guy. He confronted her right then and there, wanting to know how the love of his life was kissing this other guy. The diva told him that she didn't want a coward who wouldn't make the first move. She wasn't going to sit around for him to finally stop being a coward."

Belle was almost in tears. How could anyone do that to him? He was only wanting to do right by her and she threw his kindness in his face. Worse, She made him feel like it was his fault when it was all hers. She found herself gripping tightly to the bottom of her sweater. The one Rumplestiltskin had given her. "What happened after that?" she asked so worriedly.

"Rumplestiltskin didn't come out his room for two whole days," Zelena continued. "And when he finally did, he wasn't the same man he was before. He cared about nothing more than the House Cup and getting his magic stronger. He'd built his walls up around his heart so thick it was like trying to dig at titanium with a plastic spoon. He didn't trust anyone. It took months for him to trust us to even follow through with one of his plans. He's better now but there's still a lot of walls built up."

Belle was now holding herself as if hugging her sweater would somehow give him the support he'd so desperately needed. There was a tear rolling down her cheek with plenty more that were able to follow.

"Hey, He's better now. He's much better than he was before," Zelena promised her putting her arm around her for support. She hadn't realized it before. Why Rumplestiltskin had taken such an interest in Belle. He saw so much of himself in her. He saw someone who'd been betrayed by people they loved. He saw the pain that was put behind walls that had been holding together by tired and worn ropes that would never admit to wanting to take a break and just be held.

The only difference was that one now scared of the world and the other was angry at it.

"Do you think there's any hope for him to love again?" Belle asked, her eyes begging that the answer was yes, that he wasn't forced to live a life where no one cared for him… like they had her.

"You needn't worry," she told her. "From what I've seen, I think he's close to getting the love he doesn't believe he could ever receive," she said looking at what could be Rumplestiltskin's saving grace.

"I really hope you're right," Belle told her.


The next few days went by quickly as Belle was integrated into the friend group nicely. She was so excited it was like this ball of loving energy had taken root in his darling little Belle. Wait, When had she become his? Well, She certainly wasn't Hufflepuff's anymore. Everyone has to have a home of some kind right? He didn't mind if it meant him and his friends.

Everyone loved Belle. Even Regina got over her skepticism after a while. It was impossible to like her. Rumplestiltskin walked downstairs to have breakfast with everyone. His usual seat next to Belle was open and waiting for him. He slid into his seat as Belle engaged in the pleasant conversation he used to find so annoying.

"So Hook," she began chipperly. "Did you ask Emma out on a date yet?"

"I am very close to darling," he promised her laughing at how he knew he was actually going to do it. "I've got a plan for how to get here near me without her thinking it's a date. All I need to do now is make some decent food."

"How are you're cooking skills?" she asked him.

"I will need a taste tester if that's what you're asking," he laughed again.

She giggled at that, excited that she got to be useful to someone. "I'll meet you in the kitchen an hour before dinner then."

"Just don't forget we need to go over those notes for the DADA test tomorrow," Zelena reminded her.

"Yep, After dinner," she promised.

"Hey wait, you promised to work on my potions with me after dinner with me," Pan protested.

"I thought I said after lunch I'd help you," she told him.

He paused for a minute trying to remember, "I don't remember that but that can work for me."

"Excellent," she clapped. "Rumple, Don't forget we have to go over potions project tonight. I'll come back to the dorms with Zelena when we're done studying."

"Sounds like a plan," he told her giving her a small side hug. He couldn't help but wish that time would come so much faster. When Belle had become his pet project, he hadn't expected everyone to like her as much as they did. His potions class was the only excuse he had to get some alone time with her in order to make sure his plans were still moving forward in getting her out of that stupid dungeon she lived in.

He should talk to Regina and Zelena about setting up a sleepover or something with her. After all, If she was going to be moving in with them, she might as well get used to the place she would hopefully call home soon enough.

"Oh and Regina I have that spell for you so I'll drop it off before I leave with Rumple," Belle promised her.

She simply gave her a thumbs up as she was currently occupied with her food.

"Darling we're gonna be late if we don't hurry," Rumplestiltskin told her.

"Oh yes," she said as she quickly grabbed her tray to follow him. She'd always follow whoever wanted her with such a freeing feeling and you could see it in her steps as she walked with them. Like everyone had an adventure just waiting to show her if she came along. It was just so her. He found her so fascinating.

She always was ready for every class because, he assumed, she never wanted them to walk to her dungeon and find out her situation. So they got his textbook from his room but he only had it so Professor Snape would be appeased.

They entered the class about 15 minutes early, per Belle's request, and headed to their seats.

"Mr. Gold," the professor called him. "May I see you for a minute?"

Rumplestiltskin looked to Belle, his eyes widened, but she gave him a small smile and nodded her head towards the professor. He walked carefully over to Professor Snape.

"Mr. Gold, I want to know what your intentions are for your partner in this class," he told him sternly. "If Ms. Belle is your easy A, that's fine but I would just like to know for future reference."

Rumplestiltskin looked at him in a confused manner. He didn't know exactly what he wanted but he could tell him the truth, or at least some of it. Yes, They were using Belle but he wasn't particularly using her for this class. "Belle is a wonderful person. She cares a great deal about the people she's close to and takes care of us all. I'm happy to have Belle as a partner and a friend. The fact that she makes sure our projects are all A's is just a plus. I can promise you, I'm looking out for her and so are the rest of my friends," he told him. Surprisingly, this was the first time he'd ever truly said Belle made him happy. It was concerning.

Then he looked over at her. She was busying herself by getting all the ingredients for the improved potion that they were going to do. She had the biggest smile on her face. She looked so happy. It made sense that her happiness was contagious. Everyone else in her group of friends seemed to fall to it as well.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if she came to live with them a little quicker than they'd planned. He would have to be very careful in how he executed this. One misstep, one slip up and she'd get the very wrong idea that she was only being used to win the house cup and that they didn't actually care about her as their friend. That, however, was just not true anymore.

Belle waved for him to come over so they could start working on their project. He smiled at her and walked over. He beamed with pride as he watched her work meticulously over each speck, drop, and sprinkle of whatever substance she had currently in her hand.

As he watched her, his smile began to slowly fade away. He began thinking about all she'd gone through. How could anyone abandon her the way she'd been. She was loving, caring, supportive, strong, and somehow she'd been left to her own to fend for herself. Why? Why had they done it? He was going to get some answers sooner than later and that started by getting her out of her dungeon. Tonight.

Please review and let me know if you like it. Any comments are appreciated.